*** SYNOPSIS ***00Z FRIDAY (27-FEB-2015):1) A high pressure ridge east of NZ along 175W. A low pressure and cold front passing south and southeast of Auckland Island.2) Low pressure (1004mb) southeast of the Chatham Islands near 45S/173W.3) The sub-tropical low (993mb) moves to 48S/162W.4) A large area of light and variable winds south/southwest of the two aforementioned lows in a col region between 50S and 56S and 177W and 166W.5) A ridge of high pressure south of the sub-tropical low along 57S, then northeast to high pressure (1027mb) near 38S/140W. 6) The large South Pacific low (972mb) near 63S/107W, but a broad trough extending north with an axis roughly along 110W. Generally SW winds west of the trough axis from 135W and generally N/NW winds east of the trough axis to 85W.7) A ridge axis extends north to south along 75W. East of the ridge, SW winds will extend across Cape Horn and northeast off the southeast coast of Argentina and across the Falkland Islands to 40S. This SW flow has extensive coverage of gale force winds. 00Z SATURDAY (28-FEB-2015):1) High pressure (1015mb) moving south of NZ with a ridge extending east to the dateline.2) Low pressure (986mb) will be near 52S/161W. Strong SW/W winds around the northwest quadrant of the low and out 150-200nm. A long cold front wraps out of the low to 52S?144W to 42S/148W. W/NW winds west of the front and fresh to strong N/NW winds east of the front to 137W.3) High pressure (1028mb) near 40S/129W with a ridge extending south-southwest along 45S/131W to 53S/135W to 60S/145W.4) Low pressure moves well south into the Antarctic south at 100W. This supports a long, broad Wíly flow from south of the high pressure to Cape Horn.5) High pressure (1019mb) develops off the Argentinian coast near 40S/58W.6) Winds around Cape Horn veer W/NW with a front arriving from the west. 7) Winds ease somewhat from north of Cape Horn and across the Flkland Islands to 47S. SW winds will continue fresh to strong around the southeastern Periphery of the high pressure moving off the Argentinian coast, with moderate to fresh Sílies extending all the way north to 30S east of 45W. 00Z SUNDAY (01-MAR-2015):1) High pressure (1019mb) near 49S/175E. Light winds south to 54S at 175E. 2) Low pressure (1013mb) south of the Chatham Islands near 47S/176W. A col region of light and variable winds will be southeast of the low centered on 50S/170W, with light winds extending south to 52S.3) Low pressure (985mb) near 53S/146W will have a fresh to strong cyclonic wind field wrapping around the west and north side of the low, with S/SW winds west to 158W. An associated cold front will be out to the east and northeast of the low from 54S/136W to 45S/140W to 36S/147W. N/NW winds ahead of the low to a ridge axis north-south along 120W.4) The ridge axis along 120W is associated with high pressure (1025mb) at 39S/123W. 5) Low pressure (968mb) with a front extending to 58S/87W to 53S/88W to 48S/95W. A broad SW flow from 120W to the cold front. East of the front, Mainly NW to N winds extend all the way to Cape Horn.6) Moderating conditions around Cape Horn. A weak high pressure (1007mb) near the Falkland Islands. 7) Stronger high pressure (1021mb) of southern Brazil near 35S/47W. The high will be ridging east with time with light Síly winds extending east along 35S. Stronger W/NW winds between 45S and 40S east of 55W.**************************************General Forecast along race route*** FRIDAY (27-FEB-2015) **** 48S to 53S and 160E to 170E *WIND: Light SE/S 5-15 north of 49S. South of 49S, generally SW/W 10-20, except up to 25 near 53S.SEAS: 3-5m south of 50S.WEATHER: Squalls easing to showers and partial clearing.* 49S to 54S and 170E to 180E *WIND: Light and variable north of 50S. Mainly W 15-25 south of 50S.SEAS: 3-5m south of 50S.WEATHER: Partly to mostly cloudy with showers and a few squalls, especially south of 52S. * 49S to 54S and 180W to 170W *WIND: Mainly W 10-20SEAS: 1-3mWEATHER: Partly cloudy with widely scattered showers.* 49S to 54S and 170W to 160W *WIND: S/SW 20-30 locally gusting 35.SEAS: 3-5mWEATHER: Cloudy with rain likely and a few squalls.* 48S to 53S and 160W to 150W *WIND: NE 25-35, easing and tending NE/N 10-20.SEAS: 3-5mWEATHER: Cloudy with rain likely along with a few squalls.* 48S to 53S and 150W to 140W *WIND: NE 15-25SEAS: 2-4mWEATHER: Partly cloudy with showers arriving from the northwest. * 48S to 53S and 140W to 130W *WIND: W/SW 15-25 gusting 30 easing tending NW/N from west to east.SEAS: 3-6m, decreasingWEATHER: A few showers, otherwise partly cloudy.* 48S to 53S and 130W to 120W *WIND: SW 25-35 gusting 45 SEAS: 5-8mWEATHER: Variable clouds with scattered showers.* 48S to 53S and 120W to 110W *WIND: SW/W 25-35 gusting 40.SEAS: 4-7mWEATHER: Cloudy with squalls likely.* 49S to 54S and 110W to 100W *WIND: W tending SW 25-35SEAS: 4-7mWEATHER: Cloudy with showers and a few squalls.* 50S to 55S and 100W to 90W *WIND: NW 20-30 gusting 35, backing W/SW 25-35. SEAS: 4-6mWEATHER: Cloudy with squalls easing from west to east.* 51S to 56S and 90W to 80W *WIND: NW 10-15 building 15-25 from west to east.SEAS: Building 4-6mWEATHER: Mostly cloudy with showers.* 52S to 57S and 80W to 70W *WIND: W/NW 20-30SEAS: 4-6mWEATHER: Cloudy with showers likely.* 52S to 57S and 70W to 60W *WIND: SW veering NW 20-30.SEAS: 3-5mWEATHER: Cloudy with strong squalls around Cape Horn, easing with distance north.* 47S to 52S and Argentinian coast to 58W *WIND: SW 20-30 gusting 35 east of 58W. Otherwise SW 20-30 tending W/NW 10-20 SEAS: 1-2m west of 64W increasing 2-4m toward 60W. WEATHER: Variable clouds and shower tending partly cloudy.* 42S to 47S and Argentinian coast to 54W *WIND: SW 20-30 easing from the coast eastward with time. SEAS: 1-2m west of 64W increasing 2-4m toward 60W. WEATHER: Variable clouds and shower tending partly cloudy.*** SATURDAY (28-FEB-2015) **** 48S to 53S and 160E to 170E *WIND: North of 49S, light SE/S 5-15. South of 49S, generally W 10-15.SEAS: 1-2m near NZ, increasing to 2-4m elsewhere.WEATHER: Partly cloudy. A few showers possible near NZ.* 49S to 54S and 170E to 180E *WIND: SE/S 5-10 north of 50S. Mainly W 5-15 south of 50S.SEAS: 3-5m south of 50S.WEATHER: Partly to mostly cloudy a few showers, especially south of 52S. * 49S to 54S and 180W to 170W *WIND: SW 10-15 north of 50S and 15-20 north of 50S.SEAS: 2-4mWEATHER: Partly cloudy with scattered showers and a few squalls west of 175W.* 49S to 54S and 170W to 160W *WIND: SW 20-30 locally 35.SEAS: 4-7m decreasing 3-5mWEATHER: Cloudy with showers and squalls likely, ending from west to east.* 48S to 53S and 160W to 150W *WIND: N/NW 20-30 gusting 35, shifting SW 25-35 gusting 40-45, easing 20-30 gusting 35 westner half late in the period.SEAS: 4-7mWEATHER: Cloudy with rain likely along with frequent squalls. Easing from the west late in the period.* 48S to 53S and 150W to 140W *WIND: NW 15-25, increasing 20-30 in the west later in the period.SEAS: Building 2m to 5m.WEATHER: Partly cloudy with showers arriving from the northwest. * 48S to 53S and 140W to 130W *WIND: N/NW 20-30.SEAS: 3-5mWEATHER: Partly cloudy with showers and a few squalls arriving from the west.* 48S to 53S and 130W to 120W *WIND: SW 20-30 easing 15-20 and veering NW from west to east. SEAS: 5-8m subsiding 3-5m.WEATHER: Variable clouds with scattered showers.* 48S to 53S and 120W to 110W *WIND: SW 30-40 gusting 45SEAS: 4-7mWEATHER: Cloudy with squalls likely.* 49S to 54S and 110W to 100W *WIND: W tending SW 25-35 gusting 40.SEAS: 5-8mWEATHER: Cloudy with squalls likely.* 50S to 55S and 100W to 90W *WIND: NW 20-30 gusting 35, backing W/SW 25-35. SEAS: 4-6mWEATHER: Cloudy with squalls easing from west to east.* 51S to 56S and 90W to 80W *WIND: W/NW 15-25SEAS: Building 3-5mWEATHER: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers.* 52S to 57S and 80W to 70W *WIND: W/NW 20-30SEAS: 4-6mWEATHER: Cloudy with showers likely.* 53S to 58S and 70W to 60W *WIND: North of 56S, SW 15-25. South of 56S, W 15-25, increasing from west to east with time.SEAS: 3-5m except 1-3m north of Cape Horn.WEATHER: Cloudy with strong squalls around Cape Horn, easing with distance north.* 48S to 53S and Argentinian coast to 58W *WIND: S/SW 10-15 west of 62W. NW/W 20-25 east of 61W. SEAS: 1-2m west of 64W increasing 2-4m toward 60W. WEATHER: Variable clouds with scattered showers likely.* 48S to 53S and 58W to 48WWIND: W 25-35 SEAS: 2-4mWEATHER: Partly cloudy, scattered showers mainly south of 50S.* 42S to 47S and Argentinian coast to 54W *WIND: NW/W 20-30 gusting 35. SEAS: 1-2m west of 64W increasing 2-4m toward 60W. WEATHER: Variable clouds and shower tending partly cloudy.